Starting from the folklore forum, making up town objects

Chapter 317 Three Everlasting Lamps, The Unchosen Ghost
Three fires?
Wang Zhibo was stunned for a moment, not immediately realizing what Zhang Yunshan was talking about.

After Zhang Yunshan pointed to the top of his head, left shoulder, and right shoulder, Wang Zhibo understood.

"The three fires of Heaven, Earth, and Man?"

"Yes, some call it Heaven, Earth and Man, some call it God, Man and Ghost, but they are all the same, referring to the three flames on the top of the head, the left shoulder and the right shoulder."

Zhang Yunshan nodded.

"But what does this have to do with that ghostly thing?"

Wang Zhibo could not connect this folk tale with the female ghost that Zhang Xiaofeng encountered.

Could it be that Zhang Xiaofeng's three fires were extinguished, which is why he was haunted by the female ghost?

Even if he had never seen three fires before, what about the others who spent the night with Zhang Xiaofeng and had their yang energy drained? Their fires were extinguished too.
Furthermore, according to this theory, the "three fires" are not only for men, but should also be for women. Why is it that the women who entered the room were unharmed, while the men were the ones who got into trouble?

These doubts caused Wang Zhibo's gaze towards Zhang Yunshan to change considerably; he began to wonder if Zhang Yunshan had truly become a charlatan.

"Hehe... Fire has nothing to do with female ghosts, but there is a kind of evil spirit that is related to these three fires, and that evil spirit can deal with the female ghost you saw."

"what?"

Wang Zhibo asked.

"Three ever-burning lamps."

"Three ever-burning lamps?"

Wang Zhibo searched his memory but had never heard of such a thing.

But seeing Zhang Yunshan's confident demeanor, he became interested as well.

"Does Mr. Zhang know how these three ever-burning lamps are made, and what their purpose is?"

"Hehe." Zhang Yunshan chuckled. "Want to learn? I can teach you, but you'll have to pay."

"……How many?"

Zhang Yunsheng smiled and held up two fingers.

"Two hundred thousand, I'll teach you."

Wang Zhibo frowned, but considering that it was a kind of yin object, he didn't think it was expensive.

If it really works, then he'll have another method at his disposal.

"Sure, but I'll need Mr. Zhang to make it for me."

Wang Zhibo's request was not problematic, but Zhang Yunshan laughed.

"If I could do it myself, would I be waiting for you to solve Zhang Hong's family's problem?"

Wang Zhibo frowned.

"Then how can I believe whether what you're saying, Mr. Zhang, is true or false?"

Zhang Yunshan looked at Wang Zhibo, chewed up the last bit of ginseng in his mouth, and swallowed it.

He turned around, went back into the house, and came out with paper and pen.

“Write a note, put your fingerprint on it. If you don’t pay me after you finish making it, I will make sure all my colleagues see this note.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhibo wrote the agreement without hesitation.

Seeing that Wang Zhibo was writing with great enthusiasm, Zhang Yunshan smiled more and put another ginseng root into his mouth.

"Making three ever-burning lamps is not difficult, and the materials are not hard to find, but there is one condition that I cannot meet in my current situation."

"The lamp base of the three eternal lamps has three branches, each with a lamp, symbolizing the three fires of a person. The middle one is the Heavenly Spirit Lamp, and the two branches on the left and right are the Yang Life Lamp and the Yin Life Lamp, respectively."

"All three lamps need to be filled with lamp oil or wax, and different lamps require different types of lamp oil."

"The Heavenly Spirit Lamp requires the hair of the corresponding person to be burned to ashes and mixed with the blood from their fingertips into the lamp oil and candle. The Yang Life Lamp requires the mugwort to be ground into powder and mixed into the lamp oil and candle. The Yin Life Lamp requires the locust bark to be ground into powder and mixed into the lamp oil and candle."

"The older the locust tree bark and the mugwort, the better."

"But that's not all."

"After the three lamps are lit, the blood from the brow of the deceased person needs to be misted with Yin energy and enveloped in the three lamps, turning the Yang fire into Yin fire, and then it will be successful."

After Zhang Yunshan finished speaking, he looked at Wang Zhibo.

“If I were still practicing Yin cultivation, you wouldn’t be doing these things.”

Wang Zhibo nodded.

"These are all easy to handle, but Elder Zhang, you still haven't told me what its function is?"

Zhang Yunshan chewed the ginseng in his mouth and laughed, "As long as the lamp is lit, evil spirits cannot invade. Once the evil spirits can no longer absorb human yang energy, they will naturally leave."

Wang Zhibo frowned: "Leave?"

"What, you want to kill it?"

Zhang Yunshan smiled.

"Don't even think about it. The thing itself isn't nearby, and you can't locate it. There's no other way but to make it leave on its own."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhibo asked with some doubt, "Old Zhang seems to know a lot about that ghost? I wonder if you could enlighten me on what it is and why I've never seen it before?"

"Understand?"

Zhang Yunshan gave a self-deprecating laugh and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Wang Zhibo had no choice but to leave.

……

After receiving information about the three ever-burning lamps from Zhang Yunshan, Wang Zhibo immediately went to collect materials.

Artemisia argyi and locust bark are not rare items, but finding aged ones is not so easy.

Mugwort has medicinal value, but generally only mugwort aged three to five years is used for moxibustion. Mugwort older than five years has little medicinal value, so the mugwort available on the market is usually aged three to five years.

As for locust trees, it's not hard to find ones that are a few decades old, but it takes some effort to find ones that are over a hundred years old.

As for the lamp holders for the three perpetual lamps, they need to be specially made, as well as the lamp oil and candles.

Wang Zhibo didn't plan to use lamp oil, although it burned longer than candles, it was easy to extinguish and would be ruined if spilled. He preferred to use candles directly, as they were also easier to make.

Although none of them were rare items, it still took Wang Zhibo a whole day to prepare them.

At 8 p.m., when Wang Zhibo returned to Zhang Xiaofeng's house with his belongings, seven or eight young men were sitting in the living room.

"Zhibo has arrived?"

Wang Zhiwen came out to greet them, but Zhang Yu only glanced at him before continuing to serve wine and dishes to the young men in the living room.

"Hmm, how is Zhang Xiaofeng doing?"

"He's alright, but... those two loafers who stayed overnight have raised their prices again. They were five thousand a night a couple of days ago, but tonight they want ten thousand, saying they're not feeling well and can only stay one night."

Wang Zhibo nodded, then said to Wang Zhiwen, "Here's what you'll do: go and cut a tuft of hair from those two idlers, separate them, and then have them bleed half a bowl of blood from their fingers."

"Uh, what are they trying to do?"

Wang Zhiwen was stunned.

“Just do it.”

"Okay...I'll go right away!"

After Wang Zhiwen left, Wang Zhibo asked Zhang Yu for an empty room and brought in an induction cooker and a frying pan.

Although somewhat dissatisfied, Zhang Yu still did as instructed.

In the room, Wang Zhibo threw all the white candles he had bought into the pot to reheat them, while he himself began to process the mugwort and locust bark little by little.

When the candles had melted and the mugwort and locust bark had been ground into powder, the door to the room was pushed open from the outside.

Wang Zhiwen and Zhang Yu entered the house.

As soon as he entered, Zhang Yu spoke directly.

"Mr. Wang, why did you take the two men's hair and blood?"

Wang Zhibo frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Wang Zhiwen walked up somewhat awkwardly.

"As soon as those two guys heard that they wanted hair and bloodletting, they said that our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, and immediately asked for an additional five thousand."

Wang Zhibo nodded: "So you don't want to pay?"

"Why should I give it? You want to save my nephew, but you want their blood. What kind of logic is that?"

Wang Zhibo nodded.

"Then yours will do. Go and drain half a bowl of blood, cut off a lock of hair, and stay in the room tonight."

After saying that, Wang Zhibo poured some wax from the pot, sprinkled the mugwort powder evenly into the wax, and then began to pour it into the mold.

While swaying the crowd, he continued, "You seem to be in good spirits. Nothing will happen to you tonight. You brothers are very close, and you wouldn't want anything to happen to your nephew, so you'll definitely agree, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhiwen looked at Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger. "Do you even have the ability? If you don't, then get out of here! Wang Zhiwen, if you can't find someone, then I will. You might as well find someone else instead!"

After saying that, Zhang Yu turned and left.

After making the three mugwort candles, Wang Zhibo looked at Wang Zhiwen.

"Zhiwen, what do you say?"

Wang Zhiwen rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly.

"Uncle Zhi, please don't mind him. That kid originally wanted to go, but his wife said she would divorce him if he went. Besides, my brother-in-law's family really needs a man to take charge, so..."

"Hey Zhibo, do you think I'm any good?"

Wang Zhibo glanced at Wang Zhiwen and thought for a moment.

Even if the three ever-burning lamps fail, nothing should happen. Besides, there are two other idlers inside, so Wang Zhiwen won't absorb much even with all three of them together.

"Hair and blood, get ready."

"it is good!"

Wang Zhiwen turned and left, and soon returned with half a bowl of blood and a tuft of hair.

Wang Zhibo didn't let Wang Zhiwen leave either, and made a celestial lamp candle in front of him that could burn until dawn.

The Yang Life Lamp and Yin Lamp can be made in advance, but the Heavenly Spirit Lamp can only be made on the spot because it needs to be associated with a specific person.

Soon, three candles were inserted into one of the two lamp stands that Wang Zhibo had bought.

Once it's lit, just spray it with the blood of a vengeful person and you'll succeed.

"Alright, you don't need to worry about anything tonight. Just go to sleep. I'll take care of things if there are any problems."

Wang Zhiwen nodded and then went out.

Time flies by.

In the early hours of the morning, when the two idlers saw Wang Zhiwen about to go in, they immediately said, "We won't refund the money even if there's one more person!"
Nobody cared.

After the three entered, Wang Zhibo lit three ever-burning lamps in another room.

After the candle burned, he extended his fingernail and drew a line across his forehead, squeezing out a drop of blood onto his fingertip.

As the blood-stained finger approached the Heavenly Spirit Lamp, Wang Zhibo unleashed a burst of Yin energy, shattering the blood bead into an almost invisible blood mist that enveloped the Heavenly Spirit Lamp.

For a fleeting moment, the candlelight of the Heavenly Spirit Lamp turned red, then returned to normal.

Wang Zhibo suddenly sensed something and reached out and waved his hand over the Heavenly Spirit Lamp.

There was no warmth from the flames; instead, there was a chilling sensation.

With his mind at ease, Wang Zhibo successfully prepared the other two cups in turn.

After all three lamps were finished, Wang Zhibo tidied up the surrounding things and began to wait.

Time passed by minute by minute.

As four o'clock approached, Wang Zhibo, who was resting with his eyes closed, felt the light and shadows flickering in front of him.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that in the windless room, the flames of three ever-burning lamps were flickering.

Wang Zhibo's heart stirred, and just as he was about to go and see Zhang Xiaofeng, he remembered Zhang Yunshan's words.

Since the problem cannot be solved, should we continue on our way?

After hesitating for a while, Wang Zhibo decided to go and take a look.

How will you know if you don't try?

He immediately took his things and went to Zhang Xiaofeng's room.

Wang Zhibo carefully pushed open the door and looked at the three people sleeping on the floor.

The ghostly eyes opened, and a woman in red appeared.

It was still the same red-clad female ghost with her seven orifices gouged out. At this moment, it was floating above one of the two idle men, inhaling the grayish-white breath emanating from the man's mouth.

In just a few seconds, the female ghost changed her target.

"It hasn't reached Wang Zhiwen yet. It seems that the three ever-burning lamps can also be a sign of danger."

Wang Zhibo decided to wait until the female ghost went to Wang Zhiwen's location before making a move.

He wanted to see what the three ever-burning lamps were all about. If possible, he could increase his chances of success by making a move while the three ever-burning lamps were in effect.

As she was thinking this, the red-clad female ghost had already absorbed the other idle man.

Wang Zhibo glanced at him and saw that although he was in better condition than Zhang Xiaofeng, he certainly couldn't withstand another one or two more doses.

When Wang Zhibo recalled seeing Zhang Yunshan chewing on ginseng, he realized that the money these two had earned could never make up for the health problems they were suffering from.

However, for them, physical health may not be important; what matters is whether they can enjoy life to the fullest.

Ignoring the two of them, Wang Zhibo's gaze followed the red-clad female ghost to Wang Zhiwen.

The same operation, but different changes occurred.

When the female ghost emitted suction from her seven orifices, only a few wisps of grayish-white aura dissipated from Wang Zhiwen's body. Immediately afterwards, three flickering candlelight appeared on Wang Zhiwen's head, left shoulder, and right shoulder.

As the female ghost increased her suction, the three candlelights shone even brighter.

After several attempts, the female ghost seemed to fall into confusion and began to fall towards Wang Zhiwen.

He seemed to be thinking of getting closer before inhaling.

Upon seeing this, Wang Zhibo immediately took out a bronze mirror.

As Yin energy flowed in, a faint white light appeared on the bronze mirror. Sensing the Yin power gradually accumulating within the mirror, Wang Zhibo pushed forward with both hands, and the white light from the mirror transformed into a white rainbow that shot out and struck the female ghost's head directly.

Wang Zhibo was overjoyed and was about to press his advantage when he saw a white light pierce through the female ghost's head, strike the wall of the room, and disappear.

At that moment, the female ghost looked at Wang Zhibo.

Startled, Wang Zhibo reached out and took out the Yang Stone that Chen Xin had given him, then tossed it out through the box.

thump!thump!

The Yang Stone pierced through the female ghost's body, slammed against the wall, and bounced back to the ground.

Yang stone, it's useless too!
Just as Wang Zhibo was wondering what to do next, the female ghost moved, but instead of coming towards Wang Zhibo, she flew towards the two idle men.

Even more grayish-white energy than before was drawn out by the female ghost. Throughout this process, the female ghost's face remained turned towards Wang Zhibo.

Wang Zhibo was powerless to do anything and could only watch helplessly as the grayish-white aura emanating from the two idle men began to become intermittent.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the night, the woman in red, carrying an even more ashen aura than before, left Zhang Xiaofeng's room.

Wang Zhibo remained standing there, staring silently at the two barely breathing idle men.

What exactly is it?
……

(End of this chapter)